Joseph - Cocktail italiano: the definitive guide to aperitivo: drinks, nibbles, and tales of the Italian Riviera

Copyright 2018 by Annette Joseph All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Joseph, Annette, author. Title: Cocktail italiano: the definitive guide to aperitivo : drinks, nibbles, and tales of the Italian Riviera / by Annette Joseph. Description: New York: Skyhorse Publishing, [2018] | In English. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017052517 | ISBN 9781510729971 (hardcover : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Bars (Drinking establishments)ItalyRiviera. | CocktailsItalyRiviera. | Riviera (Italy)Social life and customs. | LCGFT: Cookbooks. Classification: LCC TX950.59.I8 J67 2018 | DDC 641.87/4094518--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017052517 Cover design by Janice Shay Cover photography by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2997-1 Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2999-5 Printed in China To every drinking partnerI have ever had, and to those in my future... Cin cin xx

My now-husband and I booked a cheap package deal to Rome with his grandmother, and we enjoyed all manner of touristy delights. We visited the Colosseum and Trevi fountain. We climbed the Spanish Steps and ate hazelnut gelato after taking in the Pantheon. We gawked upward in the Sistine Chapel and marveled at the Piet at St. Peters. There was beauty and sophistication and in-real-life art history everywhere, but the love affair was really about potatoes.

Thinly sliced fried potatoes, to be specific. The one truly fantastic meal we had on that trip came after a convoluted taxi ride that ended with us being dropped in a deserted-looking space between buildings and thinking perhaps wed been set up to be robbed. When we finally recognized the understated trattoria sign and opened the door, we were immediately enveloped in warmth and good smells, whisked to a cozy table, and served a multicourse family-style dinner that required no ordering beyond choosing red or white house wine. And accompanying the meat course was a gloriously large bowl of hot homemade potato chips! Any country that legitimizes potato chips in this way must surely have my heart. It wasnt until a number of years later on a trip with Annette that I discovered I had completely missed out on one of the best experiences Italy has to offer: aperitivo. I had the great good fortune to meet Annette through my work as a magazine editor and we quickly became dear and lasting friends, working and playing together.

When she was renovating her first place in Liguria, she invited me along to check on the progress and get a little taste of her Italy. After dragging myself through the first jet-lagged day, Annette declared that it was time for aperitivo and we strolled down the beach in Alassio, probably to Caf Mozart. I dont quite remember what I drank, but I do remember the feeling of being both relaxed and energized, the civility of taking a moment at the end of the day to slow down, connect with friends, and ease toward the idea of dinner. And I remember the bowl of potato chips that accompanied that first, and nearly every subsequent, aperitivo Ive enjoyed over the years. That trip and many others with Annette cemented my love for Italy and the casual ritual of aperitivo. One of our favorite summer dinners at my house is actually a collection of aperitivo-style bites set out on the patio table and grazed upon over a leisurely couple of hours while the kids run around the yard and I sip a cocktail.

We affectionately refer to it as snacks for dinner. There are so many things I admire about Annette, but its her grace as a host that is perhaps most impressive. The woman knows how to throw a party and, more importantly, how to make her guests feel welcome and well taken-care of. When you arrive at Annettes house, she hands you a cocktail almost immediately and theres always a spread of delectable nibbles to which you can help yourself. With this book, you too can tag along with Annette through the Italian Riviera and channel her effortless hospitality to recreate the aperitivo tradition in your own kitchen or backyard.

A dear friend introduced us to Liguria on a family vacation. For those who arent familiar with the area, Liguria is a region on the west coast of Italy that reminds me of the dramatic coastline of California. The landscape is similar, with steep cliffs and mountains, and the coast is dotted with colorful, picturesque seaside towns and inviting beaches. Instead of the Tuscan vacation we initially had in mind, our friend encouraged us to rent a home by the sea for the summer, knowing our children would probably enjoy the beaches. With our two little ones in tow, my husband and I rented a home in Santa Margherita, a chic Riviera town, and the rest, as they say, is history. My husband and I soon fell in love with the daily ritual of meeting late afternoon or early evening in the main piazza or by the sea for an aperitivo.

It is a ritual in the late afternoon and early evening enjoyed up and down the Riviera, and known simply as aperitivo, or apero for short. The idea of looking forward to ending the day with a cocktail and a few nibbles had me at ciao (hello)! Once we settled into our daily routine, aperitivo quickly became a daily habit. On the days we didnt venture into town around six oclock, I would prepare a few small bites at home, and mix up an Italian apero, such as a Negroni, or Campari and soda. Even the kids enjoyed this happy break (sans alcohol, of course), because one of the basic components of an aperitivo menu is potato chips. Yes, the lowly chip has a permanent place on the apero table. Aperitivo isnt just a beachside ritual, its an integral part of the Italian lifestyle.